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The N.T. is replete with references to the necessity for cleansing, and for the perfect
provision that has been made. We read of the cleansing power of the Word in Eph. 5: 26,
when the church is presented in glory, having neither spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such
thing, but being holy and without blemish. And again:--
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoke unto you" (John 15: 3).
"Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth" (John 17: 17).
"Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth" (I Pet. 1: 22).
In II Cor. 6: 14-16 we have a series of circumstances that bring about spiritual
defilement: being yoked with unbelievers, having fellowship with unrighteousness or
with darkness, mixing up Christ and Belial, faith and infidelity, the temple of God and
idols.
Cleansing is expressed in such terms as, "Come out from among them . . . . .", "Be ye
separate . . . . .", "Touch not the unclean thing", and is fully explained in plain language
to the church in II Cor. 7: 1: "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Writing to the Hebrews, who knew full well the "diverse washings" which they were
called upon to make, the apostle says:--
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of
Christ, Who through the eternal spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works, to serve the living God" (Heb. 9: 13, 14).
The graves, the bones, the dead that defiled Israel are here seen as types of the dead
works that defile the conscience.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb. 10: 22).
Cleansing has much to do with service, as is illustrated by the following passages:--
"Purge your conscience . . . . . to serve the living God" (Heb. 9: 14).
"As ye have yielded your membership servants to uncleanness . . . . . even so now
yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Rom. 6: 19).
"A vessels unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use" (II Tim. 2: 21).
Redemption is for sinners, and releases from their bondage. Atonement is for saints,
and makes them nigh. Cleansing is for service, and keeps the vessel meet.
We have seen that cleansing is through the blood of Christ, and by the Word of God.
Hearts are purified by faith (Acts 15: 9), and souls are purified by obedience (I Pet. 1: 22).
Purging is necessary for fruitbearing (John 15: 2), and for service (II Tim. 2: 21). We
have not been called unto uncleanness, but unto holiness (I Thess. 4: 7). All the
injunctions written in the law concerning the priests are focused upon the believer's walk